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Bill

SB 684

Relating to housing; and prescribing an effective date.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tom Andersen and 16 co-sponsors

Create a public Health Equity Dashboard with age-adjusted, race/ethnicity/gender-disaggregated health disparities data to guide policy and programs.

Effective date, September 26, 2025.
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Bill Summary · SB 684

SB 684 — Public Health: Health Equity Dashboard (Maryland — Chapter 662)

Status: Approved by Governor (Chapter 662, May 20, 2025)
Introduced: January 26, 2025
Effective date: October 1, 2025
Primary sponsor: Senator Clarence K. (assuming Augustine per text); crossfiled as HB 1100

Purpose / intent

Require the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), working with the Maryland Commission on Health Equity (MCHE), to create a public, easy‑to‑read graphic “Health Equity Dashboard” that makes age‑adjusted health disparity data widely available and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender. The goal is to improve transparency about health disparities and support policy, program, and community responses.

Key provisions

  • MDH, in collaboration with the Commission on Health Equity, must develop a clear, graphic data dashboard that includes age‑adjusted disparity measures disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender.
  • Required health indicators (minimum):
    • Health insurance access
    • Cardiovascular disease
    • Chronic disease
    • Mental health and substance use/abuse
    • Cancer
    • HIV/AIDS
    • Sexually transmitted infections
    • Body mass index (BMI)
    • Any other indicators MDH determines relevant
  • Update and publication requirements: MDH must refresh the dashboard regularly — the enrolled language requires updates “at least every 30 days on a quarterly basis, as determined by data availability” — and post the most recent updated dashboard prominently on the MDH website. (A fiscal document frames the update frequency as quarterly as data permit.)
  • MDH and MCHE are explicitly responsible for its development; the law adds a new Subtitle 55 (Section 13‑5501) to the Health – General Article.

Who is affected

  • Maryland Department of Health and the Maryland Commission on Health Equity (implementation responsibility).
  • State policymakers, local health departments, researchers, community organizations and the public — all gain improved access to disaggregated health disparity data.
  • No direct fiscal impact on revenues; MDH indicates implementation can be done with existing budgeted resources.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Fiscal note: MDH can develop and maintain the dashboard using current resources; no local or small‑business impact identified.
  • Legislative process: Passed both chambers (final Senate concurrence April 2, 2025); enrolled and presented to the Governor and approved May 20, 2025. Effective October 1, 2025. Companion bills: HB 1100/HB 388.

Implementation considerations

  • The update frequency language is somewhat ambiguous; MDH will apply data‑availability standards in practice (fiscal materials describe quarterly updates).
  • Quality of the dashboard depends on the timeliness and granularity of underlying data sources and coordination with existing health data systems and exchanges.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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